Netflix does not yet have a Best Picture Oscar, but Steven Spielberg is still apparently none too happy about the prospect of it winning one soon. The iconic filmmaker has long made his thoughts about Netflix known, saying last March that he flat-out doesn’t think Netflix movies should be eligible for Oscars. He compared Netflix originals to TV movies, saying, “I don’t believe films that are just given token qualifications in a couple of theaters for less than a week should qualify for the Academy Award nomination.”
Now, in the wake of three Oscar wins for Netflix’s Roma, including Best Director, Spielberg is prepared to propose a rule change that would rule Netflix films ineligible at an upcoming Academy Board of Governors meeting (he represents the Directors branch on the board). The news comes courtesy of Indiewire, though it’s unclear specifically what rules Spielberg would propose to be changed, and whether Netflix increasing the length of a theatrical window ahead of a streaming release would ease his concerns.
A spokesman for Amblin had this to say:
“Steven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation. He’ll be happy if the others will join [his campaign] when that comes up [at the Academy Board of Governors meeting]. He will see what happens.”
This puts Spielberg in direct conflict with his friend and fellow filmmaker Martin Scorsese, whose new film The Irishman will debut on Netflix later this year. The streaming service has already committed to a theatrical release for the film, but Scorsese reportedly wants them to give the film a wide release. That poses a challenge. Roma was released in theaters three weeks before it hit the streaming service—a first—but only in limited release, and it followed a smaller platform rollout in the ensuing months.
In order to convince major theatrical chains like AMC or Regal to carry The Irishman, either Netflix would have to bend to their rules and release the film in theaters a full 90 days before it hits Netflix, or theater chains would have to break their long-held standards that hold fast to the 90-day window. That window of exclusivity is there to ensure that exhibiting films is worth a theater’s while—if a movie’s on Netflix at the same time it’s in theaters, chances are most people aren’t going to pay extra to go see it in a movie theater.
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Aww his white male identity in Hollywood feels threatened. Good.
